
	In This Issue NYnow, published by the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), is created with you in mind; offering up the latest “need-to-know” info on current trends. This edition will bring you back to nature with green shopping opportunities.

TREND REPORT: SUSTAINABLE STYLE
Whether or not it’s “inconvenient,” the truth is that global warming has permeated the public mindset, leading consumers to reassess their spending habits. We’re fighting our dependency on limited natural resources, and embracing sustainability; that is, products and practices that minimize environmental impact.

The good news here is that designers get it. They have put their imagination, talent, and craft behind the movement to create lifestyle-enhancing, yet sustainable, products across categories. And consumers can’t get enough!

From hip wine holsters stitched from excess industrial felt, to colorful pillows made from water hyacinth-based textiles, style has merged with sustainability, giving the trend-conscious shopper the chance to do the world a favor. Your sneak preview of what’s new in ecologically-friendly products begins here, with a look at some sustainably chic product lines that will be showcased at the upcoming NYIGF.

Baby Soap by Erbaviva

Wood Trunk Cachepot by
Roberta Schilling

Combo Pack by sweetriot

Haute Surface by MIO

Bina Bag by Bahay Bags

Knot Throw & Carriage Blanket by Matteo

RETAIL SCOOP: OM SWEET OM — ECO CHIC!
Live stylishly, dress stylishly, and do it without harming the planet. If this sounds like your mantra, you’ll find everything you need at the new Brooklyn boutique, Om Sweet Home. This rustic, eco-friendly lifestyle and home furnishings store covers all the bases with earth-friendly yet stylish clothing from designers; fine bed and bath linens; and furniture made from reclaimed wood. Housewares, gifts, tabletop, children’s clothing — it’s all here.
Om Sweet Home, 59 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. www.omsweethomenyc.com

See It
How easy to forget our high school science lessons. Water is essential to life as we know it, but it’s a finite resource. The American Museum of Natural History provides a fresh water reality check in a stunning new exhibition, Water: H2O = Life. A walk through this interactive, multimedia presentation illuminates one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century: humanity’s sustainable management and use of water. Dive into this exhibit before it closes in May. American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, open daily. (212) 769-5100. www.amnh.org.

Taste It
Like we need another reason to love baked goods! Birdbath - Neighborhood Green Bakery is not only serving up the requisite homemade muffins, cookies, and breads, it’s also embracing a green business. The modest storefront was constructed from sustainable, renewable, biodegradable, recycled, recyclable, vintage and found materials. Cork covers the floors, wheat covers the walls, and hemp clothing covers the staff. Birdbath is open daily until 10PM at two locations, and you get a 25% discount if you arrive by bicycle or skateboard!
Birdbath - Neighborhood Green Bakery, 223 1st Avenue (East Village), and Seventh Avenue South at Charles Street (West Village). (646) 722-6565. www.buildagreenbakery.com

Fast food that’s good for you and for the planet. An oxymoron? Not at the brand new eatery Zen Burger. The restaurateurs who brought you the vegetarian mecca Zen Palate have introduced this affordable and convenient “joint” near Grand Central Station, offering up all of the classic fast food choices, from egg and sausage sandwiches in the morning to ten different types of burgers, as well as chicken nuggets and fish filets. It’s a can’t-miss menu of wholesome, all-natural choices in cage-free, hormone-free, fresh and organic vegetarian food. Zen Burger, 465 Lexington Avenue.
(212) 661-6080. www.zenburger.com

SustainAbility: design for a better world™, an exhibit and seminar program unique to NYIGF, returns to the winter market following a resounding reception at its debut last summer:

On View: Sustainable Materials
The spotlight shines on new materials, as well as old materials used in new and innovative ways, with products made from recycled, recyclable, sustainable, and indigenous materials – all selected for inventiveness newness, aesthetics and functionality. Think vases created from twisted bamboo, glassware made from reclaimed Bordeaux bottles, and soy candles produced entirely from wind power! February 1-6, Javits Center, North Concourse.

Learning Curve: Go Green And Prosper
Yes, you can go green without going into the red. Leaders of the green movement will tell you how. These sessions will fill up fast, so register now. For details and to register, go to: www.nyigf.com/programs.

A Manufacturer’s Guide to Going Green
Monday, February 4, 12:00 Noon, Javits 1A02-03
It’s been done before; learn how from the experts. There are production techniques that are not just efficient but also essentially waste-free, and it’s possible to create products that are made from healthy and safe materials. Susan S. Szenasy, editor of Metropolis Magazine, and a panel of "green" designers and producers will share how they’ve utilized diverse and efficient energy sources and committed to new paradigms and continuous innovation.

A Retailer’s Guide to Going Green
Monday, February 4, 2:00pm, Javits 1A02-03
Yes, you can adopt sustainability as a business philosophy and still pull a profit. Max Schorr, Founding Publisher of GOOD Magazine, along with seasoned retailers Mark Caserta of 3r Living, Amy Chender of ABC Home and Paul Donald of Branch, will discuss the connection between sustainability and profit, and how to add “green” merchandise to your mix.

The New York International Gift Fair is owned and managed by GLM, a dmg world media business.
Register to attend, or apply to exhibit, at www.nyigf.com.